(Code 380-808)
Public History prepares students for a wide range of career options by familiarizing them with museum work, historic preservation, archives, and other public history subfields, and by providing hands-on experience through internships and other opportunities. The Wisconsin Historical Society’s Division of Public History and Historic Preservation opened its Northern Field Services Office in the History Department in 2006. The Field Services program provides programming and assistance to history and preservation organizations state-wide and collaborates with the Public History program to coordinate internships and other opportunities in public history. The Public History program also works closely with the UWEC Special Collections and Archives, which regularly hosts interns. The Archives is home to one of a network of 14 Area Research Centers (ARCs) which the Wisconsin Historical Society and Universities of Wisconsin administer cooperatively, providing students access to the resources of the Society as well as the other 13 ARCs.
Program Requirements
To complete the Public History Program students must fulfill the following requirements:
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
HIST 586 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
HIST 686 | Seminar in Public History | 3 |
HIST 790 | Internship in Public History | 3 |
HIST 793 | Current Trends in History | 3 |
| 6 |
| Readings in European History | |
| Readings in World History | |
| Readings in U.S. History | |
| |
| |
HIST 719 | Readings in Area of Thesis | 3 |
HIST 799 | Thesis | 6 |
| |
HIST 719 | Readings in Area of Thesis | 3 |
HIST 796 | Public History Thesis Practicum 1 | 3 |
HIST 799 | Thesis | 3 |
| |
NOTES:
1. At least 18 credits must be taken in courses open only to graduate students (700-level).
2. Up to nine credits may be from disciplines outside of history with the approval of the advisor.
3. All students must attain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Areas of Expertise and Exams: Graduate students prepare themselves in an area of expertise designed to meet their needs and interests. Areas of expertise may be defined by broad themes, topics, chronology, or geography. A required written comprehensive exam will be based upon substantial knowledge of the student’s area of expertise based upon research, course work, and bibliographies created in consultation with faculty. During their final semester all students are also required to take an oral exam related to their area of expertise. Non-thesis students’ oral exam will be based upon their course work and written comprehensive exam. For students completing a thesis, the oral exam will be related to their research. The oral exam committee includes the graduate coordinator, one or two additional history graduate faculty, and one graduate faculty from outside the Department of History.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:
- The student demonstrates a broad knowledge and understanding of history.
- The student demonstrates an understanding of theoretical approaches to history and historiography.
- The student analyzes and interprets historical developments through research, writing, and oral presentations.
- The student applies an understanding of the historical complexity of the people, institutions, events, and ideas that shape the world today.
- The student demonstrates the foundations of a professional identity as an historian.
- The student demonstrates an understanding of the theory and ethics of public history (for public history students).
The accelerated pathway to a M.A. in History – Liberal Arts and History – Public History provides qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to complete up to 15 credits of approved accelerated coursework that fulfill both M.A. and B.A./B.S. degree requirements. Students admitted to this accelerated program will work with their academic advisor and the history graduate director to create a personalized accelerated program that conforms to the policies and procedures detailed below.
Eligibility for Admission to the History Accelerated Program (Liberal Arts and Public History)
- Junior standing (minimum of 60 credits completed).
- Completion of all prerequisite coursework.
- 3.0 overall GPA.
- Completion of History 288 with a B+ or better.
- Completed application, including a letter of intent and two recommendations.
Terms of Enrollment in the History Accelerated Program (Liberal Arts and Public History)
- Complete up to 15 accelerated credits. Students are required to work with the history graduate director to select and enroll in accelerated courses.
- Earn a B or better in all accelerated courses.
- Because the accelerated courses taken during this accelerated program also count toward the bachelor’s degree, this credit may not be transferable to graduate programs outside of UWEC.
- Accelerated credits are billed at the graduate level tuition rate.
- Acceptance into the history accelerated program does not guarantee acceptance into the history M.A. program.
- Students may leave the history accelerated program at any time without consequences.
Completion of History Accelerated Program (Liberal Arts and Public History)
- Submit graduate application for history M.A. program prior to completing bachelor’s degree.
- Application of accelerated coursework to the graduate program will be confirmed upon admission into the history M.A. program and completion of the first term in the history M.A. program.